JENNY'S PSALM REFLECTIONS: 70 VERSE 1

This week’s verse is Psalm 70 verse 1.

    "Placing trust in God and praying to Him is our sure foundation.”

Background:

Psalm 70 is a short Psalm and is a prayer for deliverance from enemies and is a real cry from the heart. Everyone goes through difficult times, and it often seems that God’s response is slow. We just have to hang on, know that He is walking alongside us and that in such difficult times we often grow in unexpected ways too.

Placing trust in God and praying to Him is our sure foundation. The Psalm in verse 2 says “Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life.” Often, in difficult times, we can feel that everyone around us is plotting against us and talking about us, but most of the time people are just getting on with their own lives and we must be careful not to read too much into certain situations. 

It may help to think of God’s delays in our lives as part of a character-building process. The next time you feel that God is not answering your prayer quickly enough remember that He never stops working for you, and He knows when and how to help you. Sometimes we just have to follow His timetable! 

As I write this reflection, the war is ongoing in Ukraine, and while I may be prepared to wait for God’s plan in my own personal situations, it is difficult to understand why He is not stepping in and stopping such terrible suffering right now. Christianity does not give an explanation as to why natural disasters and wars are allowed to happen and why people must suffer as a result. But we can be reassured that the new Heaven and new Earth will restore for eternity the way things were meant to be.

It is a core part of the Christian vocation to seek to relieve the suffering of others. Some do this through their work (doctors, nurses, engineers, plumbers, and so on). Others support charities or volunteer their time. Jesus encouraged his followers to understand that when we relieve the suffering of another human being, we are doing it for him.

Meditation

1. FIND A QUIET PLACE. 

Sit comfortably but alert – feet flat on the floor, back pushed hard against the back of the chair. Start your reflection by being open and ready to God's presence.

2. Focus on your breathing.

Pay attention to in-breaths and out-breaths. You may think of breathing in God’s life and peace and breathing out any tension.

3. Be aware of your body.

Be aware of your body. Let your aches and pains be there. Rest your hands in your lap ; you don’t need to be doing anything with them now. Rest your feet on the floor; you don’t need to go anywhere. Shrug your shoulders, ease your neck. 

4. Say the verses aloud to yourself

Take time to become still and repeat verse 1 to yourself. If you have particular burdens which you feel God is not responding to, call them out to God and feel God's presence. 

4. Finish with this prayer:

In the stillness, listen to what God might be saying to you. Finish with the prayer below. 

O God, our helper and defender, deliver us in our weakness, answer our longings and help us to hold firm in our trust and faith in you, through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

Reference: Christianity UK